A 19-year-old college student was brutally assaulted, robbed, and held captive for an entire day by two individuals who demanded a ransom of Rs 2 lakh for his release. The incident occurred near Kuniyamuthur in Coimbatore on Monday. The suspects managed to flee when police traced their hideout, using pepper spray to incapacitate officers before escaping.
Victim Details
The victim, identified as R Keshavan, is a native of Virudhunagar district and a third-year Bachelor of Commerce student at a private college near Kuniyamuthur. He had been residing with friends in a rented accommodation in Idayarpalayam for the past six months.
Sequence of Events
According to police, on June 14, Keshavan visited a room in Chinna Kani Konar Street, EB Colony, near Kuniyamuthur after being invited by his friend Dharanish. Present at the location were Dharanish's associates, Akash, 24, and Muthupandi, 23, both from Sivaganga. Investigators revealed that the duo verbally abused Keshavan and attacked him with an iron rod and a knife. They then robbed him of a two-sovereign gold chain.
Following the assault, the suspects confined Keshavan in a nearby room, threatening him at knifepoint and demanding Rs 2 lakh for his release. He remained in captivity for an entire day.
Police Intervention
Acting on a tip-off on Monday, a team from the Kuniyamuthur police station arrived at the scene to rescue the victim. As officers closed in, the suspects allegedly used pepper spray to evade capture and fled. Police reported that the duo later stopped a motorist, threatened him with a knife, stole his motorcycle, and escaped.
Investigation and Manhunt
Based on Keshavan's complaint, police registered a case and launched a manhunt for the suspects. An officer disclosed that Akash is facing more than 25 robbery cases across the state and that the group specifically targets students living alone. A police team has been dispatched to Sivaganga to apprehend the suspects.
